• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“The Defense Force intends to do just that, Senator,” Brand said in a rush. “Unfortunately, however, we find ourselves in something of a dilemma.”

“A dilemma,” Shesh repeated.

“Assuming first that we could succeed in luring the Yuuzhan Vong to Corellia, we must ensure that we can defeat them—soundly. And while we wouldn’t want to tip our hand by massing ships at Corellia, we would need to pull from Bothawui and a host of similarly defended worlds to amass the required armada.”

Shesh took a moment to respond. “You’re concerned that the Advisory Council would refuse to sanction any actions that would imperil Bothawui and the others. And yet, to accomplish your goal, it would have to appear as if Bothawui were being defended to the disadvantage of Corellia.”

Brand almost grinned.

She appraised him openly. “I see that I’ve read you correctly. Though I still wonder why you think it necessary to bring this to my attention.”

Brand held her gaze. “Should the matter go to a vote, the Defense Force would want to make certain that Bothawui wins out.”

Shesh grinned. “But, Commodore, if the Yuuzhan Vong are routed at Corellia, wouldn’t those who voted in favor of Bothawui be seen in disfavor?”

“Perhaps. But any vote tendered in the interest of the greater good would be seen as enlightened.”

Shesh fell silent for a long moment. “A moment ago you said that this entire plan rests on the assumption that you can entice the Yuuzhan Vong to attack Corellia. As I understand it, you hope to accomplish this by leaving Corellia essentially undefended, in the hope that the enemy takes note of that fact. But wouldn’t it be more profitable if word got out about what you’re doing? For its technological powers alone, Centerpoint Station would be an irresistible target for destruction.”

Brand tugged at his earlobe. “This isn’t something we can simply announce over the HoloNet, Senator.”

Shesh laughed shortly. “There are better lines to the Yuuzhan Vong than the HoloNet.” She gave it a moment, then added, “The Hutts. If they had even an inkling of your plan, they would certainly apprise the Yuuzhan Vong, if only in the interest of safeguarding their future.”

“But the New Republic has broken off diplomatic relations with the Hutts. To communicate with them at this point—”

“The Hutt consul general is still on Coruscant. I could pay him a visit and let slip a few things.”

Brand stared at her. “You would do that?”

“I would. But in return—in the event the true purpose of my visit ever came to light—I would want it known that the Defense Force asked me to intercede.”

“You want deniability,” Brand said.

“Irrefutable deniability, Commodore.”

He took a moment, then nodded. “I think that can be arranged. We could say that we were merely feeling the Hutts out.”

“Just so.”

Brand smiled. “You should have gone into the military, Senator. You would have made a brilliant tactician.”

“The military?” Shesh snorted in derision. “I don’t mean any disrespect, Commodore, but why would I want to be the one who fires the weapon when I can be the one who decides at whom the weapon is pointed?”

TEN

The size of a Victory-class Star Destroyer, the bulk freighter Starmaster hung above the inert Twi’lek homeworld, Ryloth. Pods of vessels surrounded it—tenders, gunboats, and shuttles—some as smooth as marine creatures, others as boxy and graceless as the freighter itself. Anchored in the umbra of the great ship floated a Ubrikkian luxury yacht. Also in shadow, and closing steadily on a rectangular docking bay, moved a lunette-shaped craft launched from Ryloth’s miserly zone of inhabitable twilight.

In a lower-deck compartment forward in the freighter, two Rodians monitored the approaching crescent on a display screen, switching to an interior view of the docking bay as the small craft disappeared from sight.

“Is that his ship?” the Twi’lek pacing behind them asked when the craft had penetrated the bay’s magnetic containment field and landed. Like almost everyone else aboard the